A Unique Opportunity
Violinist Kim Bomsori, 36, is known for her meticulous approach to every opportunity that comes her way. When she was given the chance to record Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the renowned label Deutsche Grammophon (DG), she didn’t rush into it. Instead, she waited until she could work with an orchestra that had always been on her mind: the Bamberg Symphony.
The Bamberg Symphony, established in 1946 by German musicians who were forced to leave Czechoslovakia, is deeply rooted in the musical traditions of Central Europe. Kim described the orchestra as having a “deeply Bohemian, emotionally layered character,” comparing it to the music of Dvořák, which often blends joy with a hint of sorrow.
But the reason behind her decision wasn’t purely artistic. The Bamberg Symphony was the same orchestra that her long-time mentor, Kim Young-wook, had collaborated with back in 1972 to record the Bruch concerto under DG. Kim Young-wook, now 77 and a respected professor at Seoul National University, is considered one of the first South Korean violinists to build an international career. He performed alongside conductors like Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein and was part of the Ax-Kim-Ma Trio, working with pianist Emanuel Ax and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
For Kim Bomsori, this collaboration was more than just a professional milestone—it was a deeply personal moment. “It felt like a dream realized,” she said. “I used to listen to that recording so many times as a child that I wore it out.”
A Mentor’s Influence
Kim first met her mentor during a master class in high school. She had brought a concerto by the Belgian composer Henri Vieuxtemps, but she played it without accompaniment. “He scolded me harshly from the start,” she recalled. It wasn’t until later that she understood the nature of a concerto—a dialogue between soloist and orchestra. Performing it without accompaniment, she said, was “only half a performance.”
When she entered Seoul National University and became his student, her training began not with repertoire, but with the basics—how to hold and move the bow. “Bowing is like swinging a bat or a golf club,” she explained. “The form has to be just right.” For an entire semester, she practiced only the movement of the bow, trying to correct bad habits and eliminate unnecessary tension. “There was even a saying at school: if your goal was to jump into competitions right away, Professor Kim wasn’t the one to study under,” she said, laughing. “I cried after many of those lessons, but looking back, I’m incredibly grateful. Without that foundation, the sound I make today wouldn’t exist.”
A Journey of Growth
After placing fourth at the Sendai International Music Competition in Japan in 2010, Kim went on to win prizes at 11 major competitions over the next seven years, earning nicknames like “Queen of Competitions” and “Competition Hunter.” “It was a crash course in learning a huge volume of repertoire in a short time,” she said. Her international breakthrough came in 2016, when she took second prize at the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competition in Poland.
Beyond music, Kim is a self-professed lover of hobbies. She grew up studying not only violin, but also piano, flute, ballet—and even baduk, or Go. As a university student, she represented South Korea in a Korea-Japan Go exchange match. Naturally, she watched the film The Match, which depicts the iconic rivalry between Go legends Cho Hun-hyun and his protégé Lee Chang-ho. “I want to perform like Lee Chang-ho plays,” she said. “You never know until the end whether he’s winning or losing—but then he pulls ahead with quiet strength at the very last moment.”
A Determined Artist
Behind Kim’s bright smile is the quiet intensity of an artist determined not just to follow in her teacher’s footsteps—but to go even further. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to both artistry and personal growth, shaped by the guidance of a mentor who helped her build a solid foundation. As she continues to explore new musical horizons, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring musicians everywhere.